Best Of
Re: Buddhist Sadhana — what is it?
You didn't listen.
I mentioned a particular tantric feast practice, being a sadhana, not "kind of", that includes consuming red meat (beef, etc.) and alcohol. You may also find the consumption of cannabis and a substance found specifically in Tibetan Buddhism, called Dutsi.
Sadhana differs from other practices in that it requires transmission to undertake the practice. This is a ceremony that includes a reading of the entire liturgy. It's also a class in how to actually perform the practice - the use mantra, mudra, mala, music and so on.
Then, you can do the practice.
What you're dealing with here is an esoteric cult. That's "cult" in the more classic sense. Not Jonestown.
There's a lot more to that can be shared, so ask away if you want, but that's a good place to stop, for now.
Buddhist Sadhana — what is it?
Wikipedia says the Sanskrit word ‘sadhana’ means a spiritual discipline or practice aimed at accomplishing a goal. So can it be any kind of practice, whatever you identify with? For example Hindu sadhus often do bathing in the Ganges as a kind of sadhana for purification.
It seems to be really varied. @IdleChater in the past talked about a tantric feast as a kind of sadhana involving alcohol and red meat.
Jeroen
Re: An online approach
Ganesha is indeed the Hindu god of luck… I’m guessing that @lobster is mentioning him as the source for a good server.
Jeroen
Re: Just for fun: the random, useless announcements thread!
I moved the baby hedgehog off the drive, fearing it might get run over/squashed ...
A while back I saw a turtle wandering across my driveway, making its way to the pond ..It had escaped from one of my neighbours......it was on the run 
Shoshin1
Re: An online approach
@RobinH said:
Thank you. Nice of you. Oh, I just noticed where you live. There must be a boom in looking for ways to de-stress right now.
I'm guessing he just moved in the hopes that he'll become a US citizen... 😏😂
person
Re: Zen - 'enlightenment in this lifetime'
Who's there?
Can't be Buddha
Can't be Buddha who?
Can't be Buddha You!
Re: From the non-dual book pile…
Stack the books, place a cushion on top, and use them as a meditation seat. In this way, a vast array of wisdom quite literally supports your practice.
Shoshin1
Re: Can the mind be conditioned into enlightenment?
@Kerome said:
@mindatrisk said:
It's just excuse after excuse after excuse. None of which you truly believe, none of which makes sense, and none, if push came to shove, you'd even act on.If I were you, I wouldn’t spend so much time projecting. You don’t know what we do to help others, you’re basing what you are saying just on some image of the meditating Buddhist that you hold in your mind. What do you know of how I help maintain my parents, the volunteering work I do, or the donations I make.
This is a sangha, a place where we share what wisdom we have, most of us are here to contribute to the community and try to answer the questions that people put in front of us. Just being here and adding with care and attention what wisdom you have is already making a positive contribution to all the noise on the internet. I don’t think it’s appropriate to make these kind of accusatory remarks and start insinuating that people here aren’t doing enough.
None of you believe this stuff! None of you live like this already! If the suffering came to your door then you'd break your back to help. But you going to the suffering... that seems to be a point of resistance. That's when the pretty 'wisdom' kicks in.
You seem to like to talk the talk, but I don’t see much sign of you yourself actually lifting a finger.
Accumulating and spreading wisdom is a very important part of Buddhism. I’d even go so far as to say it is the most important part. Much of the rest is idiot compassion, useful as far as it goes but really just temporary stopgaps which aid a person in the moment but don’t make a lasting change.
I've never said that you do not do anything. My responses have been to your own responses. As I said before, an obvious and natural response to my questions is...
_Yeah, I agree, there is a lot of suffering in the world, and in such perilous times it is so important that everyone does what they can. _
This is a normal, human response to the world situation at the moment. Instead, I got responses about 'other peoples karma', 'waiting to be enlightened' etc. and when I countered these with good arguments - and they are good arguments - I get 'well what do you do', 'you are trolling', 'you are angry', 'you need to grow' etc. etc.
You don't know who I am, and you don't know what I do. But many of you see fit to insult me on the basis of a discussion - a discussion that is not personal to any one of you, but a discussion about the state of the world and our responsibilities within it.
I haven't said that you or anyone here does not do good. I haven't even said that you don't do enough good - how would I know? I've just challenged what you consider to be wise responses that, to me, having gaping gaps and contradictions in them, and that, in the real world, you don't even adhere to yourselves.
You guys seem extremely sensitive to being challenged, to being asked questions, to having your wisdom countered. Rather than engaging in a discussion, considering points I've made, thinking things through, exploring ideas, some of you simply start to jab a finger at me. What is this?
Have I said nothing at all of any merit? Have I said nothing worthy of consideration? Have any of you replied with a simple 'fair point'...? Buddhism has a rich tradition of extreme scrutiny, meticulous examination, ripping apart everything that we believe and think to find out what is real and true.
It seems like here is much as the rest of the world is becoming. Safe spaces where we are free from being challenged, free from having our views questioned, patting each other on the back, telling each other how wise we are. I'm sorry, but this is not the path. And if you want a genuine sangha where people come to receive genuine wisdom, then you are utterly duty bound to tear apart your own ideas and thoughts before you presume to share them with others.
I'm sorry, but you are all falling far below par based on this discussion here. I don't come to teach. I come to discuss, learn and grow. It would be nice if that didn't involve being insulted, but so be it, I can handle that. This forum is dead compared to the last time I was here a few years ago. Maybe you all need to think about the kind of 'sangha' it is that you are creating.